Wolf Pack Weekly, December 23-29

Dec 23, 2013

The Wolf Pack (9-15-0-4, 22 pts.) finished up their pre-Christmas action with a pair of home games this past weekend, the results being a regulation loss and a shootout defeat. Bridgeport blanked the Wolf Pack 3-0 at the XL Center on Friday night, and then the Pack lost 2-1 in a shootout to Northeast Division-leading Springfield on Saturday. Akim Aliu scored his first Wolf Pack goal in Saturday’s second period to end the scoreless streak, and Dov Grumet-Morris stopped 54 out of 58 shots in the two contests.

This week:
The Wolf Pack return to action after the holiday with a visit to Bridgeport on Thursday night. That game faces off at 7:00 PM, and then the Pack are back on home ice Saturday at 7:00, battling the Worcester Sharks on Military Appreciation Night. The week finishes with a trip to Manchester on Sunday for a 3:00 game.

With Friday night’s 3-0 victory at the XL Center, the Sound Tigers have taken the last two battles between themselves and the Wolf Pack, after the Pack won the first two. The Wolf Pack and Sound Tigers have split two previous meetings in Bridgeport, the Pack winning 4-1 on November 16, and the Sound Tigers scoring a 3-2 triumph November 29.

The fourth-place Sound Tigers (12-14-1-3, 28 pts.) are six points ahead of the fifth-place Wolf Pack in the Northeast Division.

Defenseman Dallas Jackson scored the power-play game-winning goal with 1:33 remaining in the third period, and added an assist, in Bridgeport’s 4-3 home win over Albany Sunday.

Saturday, December 28 vs. the Worcester Sharks at the XL Center, 7:00 PM

This is Military Appreciation Night at the XL Center. Guests from various branches of the U.S. Military will perform the ceremonial puck drop, and there will be a military induction ceremony during the first intermission.

This is the first of four meetings on the year between the Wolf Pack and Sharks, and the first of two Worcester visits to Hartford. Last season the Whale swept a four-game series with the Sharks, with home wins of 2-1 December 12 and 3-0 March 28.

Worcester is in fifth place in the Atlantic Division, but above .500 at 12-11-1-1 for 26 points, one point behind fourth-place Portland. After a 3-7-1-0 start to their season, Coach Roy Sommer’s Sharks are 9-4-0-1 in their last 14 games.

Worcester rookie goaltender Troy Grosenick leads the AHL in goals-against average, with a mark of 2.01 in ten appearances. Grosenick is 6-3-0 on the year, with a 92.4% save percentage and one shutout.

For this and all Wolf Pack home games, tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger and are available at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.

The Monarchs carried the AHL’s best record into the Christmas holiday, with a mark of 21-5-1-4 for 47 points. Head Coach Mark Morris’ Manchester club has won five straight games and is 6-0-0-1 in its last seven.

This is the Wolf Pack’s first visit of the season to New Hampshire, after the Pack and Monarchs split two earlier meetings in Hartford. The Wolf Pack won 4-3 in a shootout October 18, and the Monarchs took a 3-1 decision November 30.

Veteran Manchester defenseman Andrew Bodnarchuk has compiled the top plus/minus rating in the AHL, with a mark of +22 in 31 games.

Recent Transactions:
Akim Aliu – signed to a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Wolf Pack December 16.

Josh Nicholls – reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to Greenville (ECHL) December 16.

Arron Asham – returned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers December 19.

Dylan McIlrath – returned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers December 19.

J.T. Miller – recalled from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers December 19.

Samuel Noreau – reassigned by the New York Rangers to the Wolf Pack from Greenville (ECHL) December 23.

Practice:
All Wolf Pack practices are open to the media at the XL Center or Champions Skating Center in Cromwell. As schedules are subject to last-minute changes, please call the public relations department at (860) 541-4791 before attending a practice.

Pack Tracks:
Wolf Pack Holiday Packs are on sale now, and feature two great options. The “Cheer Pack”, which is priced at only $59, includes four undated Wolf Pack tickets, usable for any Wolf Pack home game, a $10 Dunkin’ Donuts Gift Card and an autographed Wolf Pack puck. For even more value, the “Joy Pack” is comprised of six undated Pack tickets, a $15 Dunkin’ Donuts gift card and an autographed commemorative Wolf Pack stick, all for only $99. Holiday Packs are available for purchase by calling the Wolf Pack ticket office at (855) 762-6451 and on-line at the Wolf Pack’s official website, www.hartfordwolfpack.com.

At each and every Friday-night Wolf Pack home game this year, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs and $2 beers at the XL Center through the start of the second period, presented by Marc’s Appliance Warehouse, located at 75 Prospect Ave., Hartford, CT. The Pack’s next Friday home outing is January 3, when the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins visit for a 7:00 game.

Friday-night Wolf Pack home games are also special evenings in the Comcast Coliseum Club, which hosts “Hawk’s Nest”, with Bob “Hawk” Crawford, the play-by-play voice of the Wolf Pack, chatting live from 6:00-6:20 PM with different Wolf Pack-themed guests, and taking questions from the patrons enjoying the Comcast Coliseum Club’s wide array of dining and beverage options. The Comcast Coliseum Club restaurant and bar area is open two hours prior to every Wolf Pack home game, to everyone holding a ticket to the game.

Every Wednesday night Wolf Pack home game during the 2013-14 season is a “Winning Wednesday”. At all Wednesday night home games, if the Wolf Pack win, each fan receives a free ticket to the Pack’s next home game (some restrictions apply, check the Wolf Pack’s official website, www.hartfordwolfpack.com, for full details). The Wolf Pack’s next Wednesday-night home date is January 29, when the Adirondack Phantoms invade the XL Center for a 7:00 game.

At every Wolf Pack Sunday home game in 2013-14, fans can take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Sunday Family Value Packs”. Those include two tickets, two hot dogs and two sodas, starting at only $35. The next Sunday home date is April 6, when the Pack host the Norfolk Admirals at 5:00 PM.

Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2013-14 home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger. To speak with a representative about season or group tickets, call (855) 762-6451.